This archive report was first published on 3 July 2021.
On July 3, 2021, youth-led organizations in Samburu County unveiled a customized Youth Friendly Health Service guideline to promote healthcare access among young people.
The document, dubbed 'Samburu County customized guidelines for provision of adolescent and youth friendly services,' was crafted by 22 youth organizations in collaboration with the Samburu County Health Department, Department of Gender, and Department of Youth.
Speaking at the launch, Sylvana Lesuuda, Executive Director of Network Empowering Samburu Transformation (NEST), emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare services.
'As Samburu youth, we felt that our unique cultural beliefs and practices were not fully considered in the National Youth Friendly Services guideline,' Lesuuda said. 'We came together to draft a customized youth friendly service that incorporates our culture and encourages our youth to seek medical care.'
Samburu County Deputy Director for Medical Services, Samuel Lemooge, noted that the customized guideline aims to address the poor health-seeking behavior among young people in the county.
'We expect more youths to feel comfortable visiting health facilities and accessing essential services like antenatal care, vaccinations, and safe deliveries,' Lemooge said.
The customized guideline will be distributed in all hospitals and health facilities in Samburu County for implementation.
Attendees at the launch included Samburu Deputy Governor Julius Leseeto, Maralal Assistant County Commissioner George Murage, MCAs, and various heads of departments.
